Receptacle for a laryngoscope and method of using same

1 . A method of using a laryngoscope during a medical procedure on a patient comprising:

providing a receptacle for temporary storage of a blade of a laryngoscope, the receptacle having an exterior exposed to the environment around the patient and a normally open mouth leading to an interior area of the receptacle, the receptacle being disposed on a surface remote from the patient;

removing the blade from an oral cavity of the patient while maintaining a grip with one hand on a handle of the laryngoscope, the receptacle being located remotely from the laryngoscope when the blade is in the oral cavity of the patient and wherein the blade removed from the oral cavity has at least one contaminant thereon; and

after removing the blade from the oral cavity of the patient, storing the laryngoscope, via the receptacle, during the medical procedure to isolate the blade to prevent a spread of the at least one contaminant, wherein storing the laryngoscope includes:

inserting the blade through the open mouth into the interior area of the receptacle; and

folding the handle of the laryngoscope relative to the blade so that the handle is arranged at the exterior of the receptacle while keeping the blade substantially within the interior area of the receptacle;

wherein the blade is reusable during the medical procedure without further contamination.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein storing the laryngoscope further includes folding the handle toward the blade while the blade is arranged within the interior area of the receptacle.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the handle is folded toward the blade against the exterior of the receptacle without touching the handle against the surface on which the receptacle is disposed.

4 . The method of claim 1 further including, after inserting the blade into the interior area of the receptacle, and while maintaining a grip on the handle, folding the handle toward the blade without touching the handle against the blade.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the handle is folded, toward the blade, against the exterior of the receptacle and the blade resting against the interior area of the receptacle, during storage in which the blade is isolated from the handle, operator or the surface.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the blade remains substantially within the interior of the receptacle during the storing the laryngoscope during the medical procedure.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the handle remains substantially on the exterior of the receptacle during the storing the laryngoscope during the medical procedure.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising reusing the laryngoscope during the medical procedure on the patient, wherein reusing the laryngoscope includes:

unfolding the handle away from the blade; and

removing the blade from the receptacle.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the surface is a substantially horizontal surface and the receptacle is arranged within an arm's reach of an operator of the laryngoscope during the medical procedure.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting the blade into the receptacle is performed by an operator using only a first hand and without holding the receptacle.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further including holding an endotracheal tube within a trachea of the patient via a second hand of an operator while a first hand of the operator stores the laryngoscope.

12 . The method of claim 1 further including providing an adhesive to removably secure the receptacle on the surface.

13 . The method of claim 1 further including separating the blade from the handle and disposing of the blade while in the receptacle.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a portion of an original packaging of the blade when new.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a base for contact with the surface and an opposite cover out of contact with the surface, and wherein the base is longer than the cover at the mouth of the receptacle to provide isolation of the laryngoscope from the surface on which the receptacle is disposed.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a base for contact with the surface and an opposite cover out of contact with the surface, and wherein the cover is shorter than the base at the mouth of the receptacle to facilitate insertion of the blade into the interior of the receptacle and isolation of the blade.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a base and a cover over the base, the cover being wider than the base.

18 . The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a base and a cover, the cover having folds or pleats in it.

19 . A method of using a laryngoscope during a medical procedure on a patient comprising:

providing a receptacle for temporary storage of a blade of a laryngoscope, the receptacle including a mouth connected to an interior area of the receptacle, the receptacle being disposed on a surface and located remotely from the laryngoscope when the blade of the laryngoscope is arranged within an oral cavity of the patient;

removing the blade of the laryngoscope from the oral cavity of a patient while a user grips a handle of the laryngoscope;

storing the blade of the laryngoscope within the interior area of the receptacle without the user touching the blade of the laryngoscope such that the handle of the laryngoscope is positioned at an exterior of the receptacle; and

wherein the blade of the laryngoscope is removable from the receptacle for reuse during the medical procedure.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the receptacle is biased to an open position, the blade of the laryngoscope being stored within the interior area via the mouth in the open position.